Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Is a little of the old elbow grease needed to sell a home? Maybe so, at least according to a recent survey, which shows that selling a home “as is” can be a big turn off for buyers.
The study by Coldwell Banker found that 87% of first-timers don’t want to put in a lot of work on their first home. What they want is a home that is ready to move in straight away.
Perfect for a first time home buyer. Courtesy of Plushemisphere
The problem that home sellers have with this is getting around the idea of putting all the work in to make a home habitable, only to move out right away once it’s been sold. But, according to the survey, there is no doubt that sprucing up a home not only means it will sell faster, but for more money too.
A recent article in RISMedia demonstrated that when work totaling $40,000 was carried out on a home, the home renovations added approximately $100,000 to the value of the home. Obviously, not every home will need that much work on it, but the point is made – put in a little effort and care, and it will go a long way towards getting the kind of sale you want.
Experts say that a complete overhaul is not needed. You don’t need to completely redo the kitchen or bathroom, rather just concentrate on the obvious things like replacing those leaky pipes, fixing up worn ceilings and battered roofs. Visible home improvements such as these go a long way towards boosting a home’s value.
New home buyers don't want to carry out improvements. Courtesy of m.o.n.o.c.h.r.o.m.e.
Most buyers, and expecially first time buyers, don’t want the hassle of making a home ready before they can move in. A lot of first time buyers especially, don’t have much cash left over to spend on repairs. They are probably coming from a nice home or apartment they are renting, and they want to move into a home that is equally nice.
Clutter is another issue. Even though the clutter won’t be there when the buyers move in, it can still be a psychological turn off, making them think the home needs more work than it actually does. To save yourself any trouble, make sure everything is nicely tidied away.
The golden rule, above all else, make sure your home is presentable and ready for sale, otherwise you could be in for a long wait.
